Knowledge Management in the context Agricultural Research and Development in ECA CTA ICT Observatory, 2-4 November 2009 Jacqueline Nyagahima, Head of Information and Communication Unit, ASARECA

Structure of Presentation Introduction to ASARECA Challenges - African agriculture and food security Challenges – to African agricultural research Knowledge Management at ASARECA Setup Definition Platforms ICT Challenges

Introduction to ASARECA

Challenges - African agriculture and food security

Challenges – to African agricultural research

Knowledge Management at ASARECA

Setup

Definition

Platforms

ICT Challenges

Introduction to ASARECA The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa

Introduction Mission Enhance regional collective action in agricultural research for development , extension and agricultural training and education to promote economic growth, fight poverty, eradicate hunger and enhance sustainable use of resources in Eastern and Central Africa

Mission

Enhance regional collective action in agricultural research for development , extension and agricultural training and education to promote economic growth, fight poverty, eradicate hunger and enhance sustainable use of resources in Eastern and Central Africa

Introduction ASARECA carries out its work through 7 Regional Research Programmes Staple Crops Non-staple High Value Crops Livestock and Fisheries Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology Natural Resource Management and Forestry Policy Analysis and Advocacy Knowledge Management and Upscaling

ASARECA carries out its work through 7 Regional Research Programmes

Staple Crops

Non-staple High Value Crops

Livestock and Fisheries

Agro-biodiversity and Biotechnology

Natural Resource Management and Forestry

Policy Analysis and Advocacy

Knowledge Management and Upscaling

Challenges - African agriculture and food security Less water: increased demand from other sectors Less arable land: land degradation and urbanization Less labor: HIV/AIDS and endemic diseases A changing climate: increasing variability and more extreme events is projected to: reduce productivity affect ecological systems adversely affect human and animal health, and decrease biodiversity Increasing concerns over the environmental and social implications of various agricultural policies and technologies

Less water: increased demand from other sectors

Less arable land: land degradation and urbanization

Less labor: HIV/AIDS and endemic diseases

A changing climate: increasing variability and more extreme events is projected to:

reduce productivity

affect ecological systems

adversely affect human and animal health, and

decrease biodiversity

Increasing concerns over the environmental and social implications of various agricultural policies and technologies

Address water deficit problems - through improved drought tolerant crops, irrigation technologies, Produce a diversified array of crops, livestock, fish, forests, biomass (for energy) in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner Address soil fertility and salinization of soils Improve the nutritional quality of food Improve the temperature tolerance of crops Combat emerging agricultural pests and diseases Reduce post harvest losses Improve nutrient cycling Improve food safety CONTENT Challenges – to African agricultural research

Address water deficit problems - through improved drought tolerant crops, irrigation technologies,

Produce a diversified array of crops, livestock, fish, forests, biomass (for energy) in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner

Address soil fertility and salinization of soils

Improve the nutritional quality of food

Improve the temperature tolerance of crops

Combat emerging agricultural pests and diseases

Reduce post harvest losses

Improve nutrient cycling

Improve food safety

CONTENT

Knowledge Management @ ASARECA “ ..regional collective action…” Through ASARECA , agricultural scientists in the 10 countries work together and in partnership with farmers , extension, private sector, scientists of regional and international institutions and development partners to come up with new innovations that could lead to agricultural-led economic growth, poverty eradication and improved livelihoods .

“ ..regional collective action…”

Through ASARECA , agricultural scientists in the 10 countries work together and in partnership with farmers , extension, private sector, scientists of regional and international institutions and development partners to come up with new innovations that could lead to agricultural-led economic growth, poverty eradication and improved livelihoods .

Knowledge Management @ ASARECA calls for strong partnerships that are multidisciplinary and participatory incorporating the needs a wide range of stakeholders. incorporating feedback from a wide range of stakeholders. the generation and communication of timely, quality agricultural knowledge and information.

calls for

strong partnerships that are multidisciplinary and participatory

incorporating the needs a wide range of stakeholders.

incorporating feedback from a wide range of stakeholders.

the generation and communication of timely, quality agricultural knowledge and information.

KM @ASARECA Setup Africalink Project (1996 – 2002). Email/internet connectivity for agric research institutes, website training Regional Agricultural Information Network(2003 – 2007): network of Information professionals - Agric Information management Capacity (training, infrastructure, structures)-

Setup

Africalink Project (1996 – 2002). Email/internet connectivity for agric research institutes, website training

Regional Agricultural Information Network(2003 – 2007): network of Information professionals - Agric Information management Capacity (training, infrastructure, structures)-

KM @ASARECA 3. Current All 7 programmes (CONTENT) -> The Knowledge Management and Upscaling Programme (CHANNELS/UPTAKE PATHWAYS) -> The Information and Communication Unit (TOOLS)

3. Current

All 7 programmes (CONTENT) -> The Knowledge Management and Upscaling Programme (CHANNELS/UPTAKE PATHWAYS) -> The Information and Communication Unit (TOOLS)

KM @ASARECA - Definition Development . Knowledge is developed through research, learning, innovation, creativity Acquisition . Knowledge is captured and retained for use and further treatment. (writing, video, audio, pictures, etc). Refinement . Knowledge is processed, organized, transformed (adapted for different users) Distribution and Deployment . dialogue, presentations, publications , training, conferences, networks Preservation structured for storage and retrieval Use. By using knowledge, it becomes the basis for further learning and innovation, and feeds back into the knowledge management process.

Development . Knowledge is developed through research, learning, innovation, creativity

Acquisition . Knowledge is captured and retained for use and further treatment. (writing, video, audio, pictures, etc).

Refinement . Knowledge is processed, organized, transformed (adapted for different users)

Distribution and Deployment . dialogue, presentations, publications , training, conferences, networks

Preservation structured for storage and retrieval

Use. By using knowledge, it becomes the basis for further learning and innovation, and feeds back into the knowledge management process.

KM@ASARECA - Platforms

ICT Challenges “… enormous pressure – managing increased information requirements, information volumes, information flows....” , “…..to a world racing away with the latest and newest web and mobile tools..” ‘ DOT.COM NOISE’ Email, Internet – modems through landlines, wireless & VSAT, GSM & broadband, –Mobile phones – wireless environments Line of site, VSATS, Instant messaging, VOIP – Skype, Web 2.0 – blogs, wikis, Broadband, podcasting, webcasting, e-services, mobile technology, facebook, twitter... CONSTANT –PEOPLE in agric R&D

“… enormous pressure – managing increased information requirements, information volumes, information flows....” , “…..to a world racing away with the latest and newest web and mobile tools..”

‘ DOT.COM NOISE’

Email, Internet – modems through landlines, wireless & VSAT, GSM & broadband, –Mobile phones – wireless environments Line of site, VSATS, Instant messaging, VOIP – Skype, Web 2.0 – blogs, wikis, Broadband, podcasting, webcasting, e-services, mobile technology, facebook, twitter...

ICT Challenges Public sector (Research, extension training & education) adapt and adopt to these technologies? Knowledge management is resource intensive – time, finances, skills sets Inadequate commitment institutional (Strategic, Policy), individuals (incentive) Transfer of ‘content’ to and from the generators of science knowledge to intermediaries and users not well defined Cost of refinement/reproducing Rewriting to target different audiences with different needs and roles Graphic design, audio, visual presentation Inadequate human capacity for refinement/reproducing content

Public sector (Research, extension training & education) adapt and adopt to these technologies?

Knowledge management is resource intensive – time, finances, skills sets

Inadequate commitment institutional (Strategic, Policy), individuals (incentive)

Transfer of ‘content’ to and from the generators of science knowledge to intermediaries and users not well defined

Cost of refinement/reproducing

Rewriting to target different audiences with different needs and roles

Graphic design, audio, visual presentation

Inadequate human capacity for refinement/reproducing content

ICT Challenges Sustainability Establishing collaboration frameworks – roles for actors/ organisations Structures and systems to support use? Tools that will stand the test of time? Introduced in a structured way? Easily adaptable in the current work environment? Tools with a short learning curve (intuitive)? How can this be introduced into related curricula and training programmes (e.g. Post-graduate programme in Agricultural Information and Communication Management)?

Sustainability

Establishing collaboration frameworks – roles for actors/ organisations

Structures and systems to support use?

Tools that will stand the test of time?

Introduced in a structured way?

Easily adaptable in the current work environment?

Tools with a short learning curve (intuitive)?

How can this be introduced into related curricula and training programmes (e.g. Post-graduate programme in Agricultural Information and Communication Management)?

THANK YOU